From the arts, to success on the field, from elections, to Islamic studies, and the auction, WA is a happening Hilltop! A sampling of those happenings follows below.
CITY COUNCILOR VISITS
Worcester City Councilor Bill Eddy spoke at a special Middle School assembly in Ross Auditorium, Warner Theater, this week. The assembly was held in conjunction with the upcoming 2008 presidential election, set for Tuesday, Nov. 4.
"How many of you do not know what the Electoral College is? "he asked students. Hands went up throughout the gathering. "Then, you're not alone, and you're in good company," he said. "Many adults don’t know either."
Mr. Eddy, who is chairman of the Worcester City Democratic Committee, spoke about the electoral process, including the difference between popular vote and the use of an electoral college to pick a president.
Mr. Eddy was himself a member of the Electoral College during the 2004 presidential election.
Dr. John F. Fox, director of the Middle School, later thanked Mr. Eddy for having taken time to add to the WA students' understanding of a process they are currently learning about.
BOYS WIN INVITATIONAL
WA's Boys Varsity Cross Country Team had an important victory at the Shaler Invitational at Williston last week, according to Coach Vincent Ricciardi. The number of teams and the caliber of running talent put this year's invitational in a league of its own.
"In 12 years of coaching here I've never seen a boys team win a race this important," Ricciardi said, "and Worcester placed three guys individually in the top ten: Greg McKetchnie, fifth, Taylor Hogan, sixth, and Mike Barton, ninth."
OPEN GATES AND ISLAM
Earlier this month, Worcester Academy co-sponsored a workshop with al-Hamra Academy on world religions and Islam conducted by Susan Douglass of the Al-Waleed Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University.
The program, held under the auspices of the Open Gates program at Worcester Academy, was open to Upper School students and all faculty and staff, as well as faculty from al-Hamra and other local high schools.
According to WA history chair and Open Gates coordinator Dr. John Murnane, the daylong workshop covered everything from the basic beliefs and practices of Islam to Islam in the media.
CELEBRATING 175 YEARS
Worcester Academy parents are doing their part to celebrate WA's 175th Anniversary this school year. They are working hard to put together the Gala Auction, to be held at Mechanics Hall in Worcester on April 25, 2009.
The auction, which will raise money for faculty professional development, is the second hosted by WA since 2006. This time, the event will also be the culminating celebration for the anniversary year.
The Academy, recognized among the finest urban day-boarding schools in the country, was chartered on Feb. 28, 1834.
Organizers Jody McNamara P'09, P'12 and Janet Sussman P'06, '10 say plans are well underway to make this event an affair to remember. The co-chairs have been busy organizing volunteers, sending out letters, designing a web site, and soliciting auction items.
ARTS AT WA
WA student art is now on display in the foyer of Walker Hall. Additionally, the Grade 8 Fall Exhibition is on view in the Walker Gallery. The show features digital imagery as well as illustrated calligraphy. The works are the artists' first answers to the question, "What Inspires You?"
